Last week we lost a distinguished American leaders, trailblazer, and military officer.
I greatly admired Colin Powell for not only his incredible leadership.
I admired him, and still do, for his honesty, integrity, and courage to do what he felt was right.
Even when it meant admitting he had been wrong or he chose to go against popular opinion.
This is how I will remember him.
In his 2012 memoir, It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership, Powell laid out a list of "13 rules" that he lived by.
You can read the full list and explanations for each here.
I have found three of his rules to be especially helpful in my life and career.
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier: You are in control of the level of optimism your team has. They can reach your level of optimism but they will rarely, if ever, exceed it.
So, if your optimism is high, theirs will be too. And, if your optimism is low, theirs will go down as well. Be a perpetual optimist (with a little realism thrown in for good measure!) so that your optimism and positivity infects those around you.Remain calm. Be kind: Your attitude and energy are contagious. And, it's these things that create the environment that your organization operates in.
During times of high stress, rapid change, or crisis, radiating a sense of calm can help bring the volume down for everyone else. Throw in plenty of kindness and compassion and you have created an environment in which people will flourish.Get mad, then get over it: We all get angry. Smart leaders know how to channel that energy in a productive way without causing collateral damage. This is the key to emotional intelligence!
You can channel it through exercise, getting more sleep, taking a walk, meditation, talking it out with a trusted friend or colleague. Be sure to find one (or several) ways that work for you.
Most importantly, don't ever make an important decision when you are really angry. Channel that anger first, then make the decision with a clear mind.
Now I want to hear from you!
Check out Powell's full list of 13 rules and then let me know which one you find most valuable or helpful to you.
You can let me know by leaving a comment below.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts!